Camp Cove 1788

Now, just inside the entrance to Sydney Harbour at South Head, at the headland to the west of Camp Cove in Sydney, is a small neglected memorial stone, with tributes to the short stay of the First Fleet while they looked for a site to establish a new nation, or at least a site for a penal colony.

Leaving no hint of their arrival in Kurnell Australia in 1788, the First Fleet had weighed anchors and followed the coastal cliffs to Sydney Cove, then turned in through the heads. The officers of the First Fleet seems to have looked at Manly, and moved on immediately.

Property next to Watson’s Bay looked like better real estate for a new world, than Brighton. They set up camp here on 21 January, 1788. But they were determined to find even better land and water for their colony, so a few people rowed down the harbour till they discovered Circular Quay.

When I found this memorial at Camp Cove a few years ago, it was covered with cobwebs on Australia day. This year the cobwebs had been blown away, and it was in reasonable condition. But still lonely looking, and its importance apparently forgotten by people celebrating Australia Day.

Botany Bay

When the First Fleet arrived in Australia they had followed a map left to them by Captain Cook. So they steered for Botany Bay, wisely by-passing Tasmania and Victoria.

The first vessel of the fleet arrived there on 18 February, 1788. There is no tribute, no marker, no memorial spot at Kurnell to suggest that the First Fleet might also have visited the landing spot where Cook’s crew came to shore. There’s plenty of historical acknowledgement to Cook's visit, but nothing about the First Fleet at Kurnell.

Instead the monument to the first white immigrants is way over on the shallow side of the bay, in the suburb of Brighton. I can’t imagine them even considering pitching tents there.

Kurnell is a poor place to want to build a new country, but Brighton is worse. But that’s where the grand monument to the arrival of the First Fleet sits on the shore.

What the Captains of the First Fleet vessels might have found at Brighton probably looked bad for chances of success in their new world mission. But further around in Botany Bay, there’s water deep enough for ships, where Sydney’s industrial harbour now operates.

Perhaps they thought the French were already there, and didn’t chance further exploration in Botany Bay. The French certainly arrived in Botany Bay a few days later, hard on the heels of the British First Fleet . Hence we have the suburb of La Perouse on Botany Bay to remind us of their early presence in 1788.

The monument to the First Fleet, at Brighton today, is peeling and torn, a good meeting place but no one sitting around the model ship on the day I visited could tell me why it was there.

Neglected parts of Australia Day

One of the good parts of living in Australia is the larrikin response to political officialdom and business control of holidays.
So it’s laid back fun to enjoy barbeques and mateships that thrive on Australia Day. It’s exciting to go to some of the suburban ceremonies, when new Australians get their certificates of citizenship, and swear allegiance to the Royal family of Australia
Australia Day is meant to celebrate the formation of a nation, based on the arrival of the First Fleet, in 1788.

The First Fleet of 11 ships led by HMS Sirius, left Portsmouth in 1787 with more than 1480 men, women and children onboard.
Those Brits landed in Sydney Cove in 1788 and started to rearrange the place. They brought a ready made population of their unwanted convicts and felons.
Just a few decades ago some bright government clerk thought that this event would be a good focus point to celebrate as our national day.
Some indigenous people still feel a bit resentful about British colonisation of Australia in 1788. Some of the rest of us think it’s a bit peculiar to still be carrying the British Union Jack on our national flag, so long after we left home, breaking away from the Mother Land.
Over the years a number of memorials and monuments to the achievements of the first fleet have been established around Sydney harbour.
These monuments now seem to be ignored and forgotten on Australia Day